THE mind absolutely boggles.
This was Siti Kasim’s reaction when confronted by news of a protest been mooted by Muslim NGO Pertubuhan Kebajikan dan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (PEKIDA) after today’s Friday prayer (April 11) at the entrance of the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) mosque in Penang.
And what is on the cards for these protestors? To vehemently deny the “false narrative” being peddled on the history of Ancient Kedah or specifically the Bujang Valley.
Apparently, an international panel of well-respected academics will gather at the Ascott Gurney Hotel in Penang on May 19-20 for the International Conference on “Kedah Tua: Bujang Valley in a Regional Context”.
“I can’t tell if people are becoming more stupid or if my tolerance for idiots is getting lower,” lamented the human rights activist and lawyer on her Facebook page.
Many netizens were similarly astounded that an academic forum is being viewed as a threat to the sanctity of Islam in the country.
Weaponising religion is a dangerous ploy, warned one netizen. Worse still, the protestors might not even fully understand the issue at hand but are being manipulated for political gain, it was argued.
One commented that Malaysian history had been re-written to the point that it is viewed as a collection of myths and folklore.
Using the majority as a show of force was quite simply shameful, argued one observer.
But why? Fear of the truth or just plain old insecurity were among the reasons proffered.
The entire process of mobilising the masses by far-right elements was neatly summed up by one commentator.
One netizen pondered just how do these protesters are going to argue with historical artefacts.
Perhaps the forum should have invited controversial Muslim convert preachers Firdaus Wong Wai Hung and Ridhuan Tee Abdullah as esteemed speakers for a more balanced view, suggested one commenter sarcastically.
Given the ridiculousness of this so-called protest, one netizen summed up the prevailing sentiment with a meme.
It is as the legal eagle surmised, brainlessness has become endemic in this country. If the country’s brightest – as in the USM scholars – can be so easily manipulated to join the protest, then the future looks very bleak indeed. – April 11, 2025
